Goodwood Gallery

We had an outstanding time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The event itself is absolutely amazing – the best of road and racing all set in Lord March’s beautiful estate in Chichester. It was your author’s first time at the event and I can tell you, hand on heart, that it won’t be my last.

For us at Koenigsegg, Goodwood was a wonderful chance to meet some of our customers and partners, and take some friends and journalists for a drive. We had the use of a Koenigsegg One:1 for the event, a car owned privately by an English customer. We also had the Regera on display at the Michelin stand. A privately owned Agera was entered in the hillclimb, as well.

It’s fair to say that all three Koenigseggs lit up the event. The interest from the crowd was just fantastic. The Regera was a star of the show; it was photographed all day, for all four days. The other two cars kept the crowds lining the hillclimb entertained and people in the Supercar Paddock were busy with their cameras, too.

Elsewhere, the areas that caught my eye were the Cartier Style et Luxe concours and the oldtimers that took the track twice a day, just like everyone else.

The concours cars were spectacular, to say the least. There was an emphasis on the Citroen DS this year, with a number of super-fine examples of this revolutionary beauty on display. The Concours prize-winner was an absolutely stunning Talbot Lago, one of 5 cars showcasing the artistic styling of French coach builders Figoni et Falaschi (all examples shown are owned by the one very fortunate exhibitor).

The oldtimers were a wonder to behold. The Beast of Turin was the star attraction. It’s a Fiat from 1911 and quite possibly one of the world’s first supercars. Porsche used to talk about their 3.0 four from the 944S2 being the biggest 4 cylinder engine in a road car. Maybe Fiat should get them to issue a belated correction, as “The Beast” has a 28.5 litre inline 4 cylinder.

The award for superior testicular fortitude goes to the drivers of this Darracq 200hp from 1905, featuring a 25.4 litre V8 engine. They were racing this car up the hill like their lives depended on it, with driver and passenger alike shifting from side to side, to balance weight during the corners. It was a sight to behold.

We are all petrol heads here at Koenigsegg. The art of the automobile is what we’re all about. In that spirit, we are pleased to present a gallery of some of our favourite historics and classics from the Goodwood Festival of Speed. I hope you enjoy the images.